Sometimes, it’s obvious when a pet needs emergency care. Other times, you might be wondering if you can wait until morning when your regular veterinarian’s office opens. At Animal Urgent Care, we urge pet owners in Escondido, CA and across North County San Diego to call us at 760-738-9600 for any questions regarding their pets’ health. We can provide you with instructions based on their condition. We provide 24/7 medical and surgical care, 365 days a year.

Common Pet Emergencies Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Allergic/Anaphylactic Reactions

Dogs and cats may be mildly to severely allergic to:

Stings from bees, wasps and other stinging insects

Vaccines

Medications

Insect Bite Hypersensitivity: Allergic reactions to insect bites and stings are common for pets, and can vary in severity. Common symptoms of facial swelling, swelling around the wound, hives, or red ears or skin. Symptoms of a severe reaction may include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and/or collapse. Mild reactions may worsen and should be evaluated by a vet.

There are 3 types of reactions that can occur:

Mild: Minimal swelling or pain at the sting/injection site. May or may not require treatment. Monitoring for worsening reaction is strongly advised.

Moderate: Swelling at the site and development of hives and/or swelling around the eyes or face, tummy or groin. Cats rarely develop hives but will scratch themselves and may have trouble breathing. The earflaps will often become red and swollen. The reaction may occur immediately after the sting, or be delayed by minutes to hours. You should take your pet to a veterinarian for injection treatment.

Severe: Following the bite or sting the pet vomits, has diarrhea, and has difficulty breathing or collapses. PLEASE NOTE: Oral antihistamines for acute, severe reactions are usually ineffective and can be dangerous for your pet.

Pets with a severe reaction need to see a veterinarian immediately, as the vomiting and diarrhea may become bloody and cause a severe, life-threatening condition.

Anemia/Bleeding Disorders

There are many causes for anemia (decreased red blood cells). If your pet is bleeding excessively from an open wound, you should try to calm them down and place a bandage directly over the source of bleeding. Make sure that it is not placed too tight and have them seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Other causes of anemia may not be as obvious, and can be the result of several conditions including:

Rodenticide poisoning resulting in bleeding into the chest or abdominal cavity

Despite the cause and source of bleeding, your pet will likely display similar symptoms which can manifest as:

Weakness, lethargy and collapse

Fast breathing and elevated heart rate

Pale gums

Coughing or distended abdomen (if they have internal bleeding)

If you suspect your pet is anemic, you should have them seen by a veterinarian immediately.Animal Urgent Care is stocked with canine and feline blood products in the event your pet requires a blood transfusion.

Bite Wounds

The most common bite wounds are:

Dog vs. Dog

Dog vs. Cat

Cat vs. Cat.

Wild animal bites can cause some of the most severe bite wounds.

Bite wounds can cause infections and damage beneath the skin which can be very serious. It is difficult to tell how much damage has been done beneath the skin, which is why it is important for your pet to see a vet. First, clean the site of the wound with water and gentle soap. It may need an antibiotic to fight infection, which is why your pet should be seen promptly.

If the wound is large and underlying tissue is exposed, do NOT put anything on the wound and take the animal to a veterinarian immediately.

Bloat (Gastric dilatation and volvulus)

Bloating in pets can be a life-threatening condition. It is most common in larger dogs but can occur in any dog or cat. Your pet needs evaluation by a vet as soon as bloating is detected.

Signs of bloating and/or twisted stomach include:

Abdominal distention

Retching or trying to vomit, but all that comes up is foamy material

Rapid heart rate

Weakness

Pale gums

Unable to get comfortable or lay down

Panting

Treatment usually requires aggressive medical stabilization with intravenous fluids, along with stomach repositioning surgery. Early treatment is essential, because left untreated, stomach twisting results in stomach lining death and stomach rupture.

If you suspect your pet may be bloated, take your pet to a veterinarian or Animal Urgent Care immediately.

Congestive Heart Failure

Heart disease is common in both cats and dogs, although the exact mechanisms as well as symptoms vary greatly. In dogs, coughing and exercise intolerance are usually the first symptoms to be observed. Cats typically don’t cough but may exhibit an increased respiratory rate, lethargy and inappetence.

As heart disease progresses, the heart decompensates and fluid will begin to accumulate in the lungs (most commonly) or abdomen. When this occurs, they will develop labored breathing which can manifest in different ways depending on the species (see respiratory distress).

If you suspect your pet could be in congestive heart failure it is extremely important that you get them to a veterinarian immediately where treatment can be administered in the form of oxygen and diuretics.Try to minimize stress as much as possible during transport of your pet to the hospital.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication to diabetes mellitus, which can occur in both cats and dogs. The most obvious symptom of diabetes mellitus is increased drinking and urination, increased appetite and weight loss. If diabetes mellitus goes untreated or an already diagnosed diabetic acquires an additional disease such as pancreatitis, they can develop a severe/complicated form of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis.

If your pet is currently being treated for diabetes with insulin and stops eating, begins vomiting or appears lethargic, it is best to NOT give more insulin and have them seen right away. Animals that develop diabetic ketoacidosis need to be managed in the hospital until they are stable enough to go home. Once home, they will usually require insulin therapy for life, which is both a time and financial commitment that every pet owner needs to be made aware of and comfortable with before going forward.

Foxtails

Foxtails are a type of grass found throughout Southern California. These benign-looking plants have barbs that help attach themselves to the fur of dogs and cats.Once attached, they will continue to migrate and can penetrate through tissue into body cavities.

The most common location for foxtails in dogs are the ears, nose and paws. Symptoms of embedded foxtails pertain to their location on the body and may include:

Head shaking/ear scratching

Incessant sneezing with or without blood

Excessive foot licking, swelling/pustule between the toes

When possible, it is best to avoid walking your pet through areas that are dense with foxtails.Always check your pet’s coat after walks and promptly remove foxtails from their coat.If you suspect your pet may have a foxtail lodged in their skin, seek treatment immediately.

Fractures/Lameness

Lameness is an abnormal gait or stance which is usually the result of pain in one of the extremities. This can occur as the result of many conditions, including soft tissue injuries (strains/sprains, contusions), fractures or dislocations.

If your pet is consistently lame, in pain and/or refuses to put weight on a leg, you should have them seen immediately. X-rays may be advised to assess for a fracture or dislocated bone.Certain types of fractures and dislocations can be managed conservatively with splints and rest, while others may require surgery for best long-term outcomes. Animal Urgent Care works closely with several board-certified surgeons to treat most fractures that are not amenable to conservative management.

Heat Stroke

Pets should never be left in the heat for too long, and they should NEVER be kept in a car on a hot day. If your pet has heat stroke, they need emergency care immediately.

Your first thought may be to provide your pet with water, but this is not enough. Heat stroke can lead to kidney failure and death, so your pet needs to receive emergency care immediately.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

A pet with a collapsed disc may experience several symptoms, including:

Severe back or neck pain

Weakness or inability to walk

Hunched posture

Dragging their hind limbs

Inability to urinate or defecate.

This condition is painful and can get worse, so you should seek immediate medical care for your pet if they are experiencing these symptoms. Be careful when transporting your pet to the vet’s office; use a carrier or crate and try to limit movement of their neck or spine. If your pet is in a lot of pain, a muzzle may be needed. The sooner you seek treatment, the better. Surgery may be required. This condition is more common in pets who are longer than they are tall.

Labor/Delivery Disorders

Your dog or cat in labor should seek emergency care from a vet if:

They have been pushing for more than half an hour without producing a puppy or kitten

More than four hours pass between puppies or kittens

Your pet is weak or in significant pain

A puppy or kitten becomes stuck as it is emerging

Ocular Emergencies

If your pet has suffered an eye injury, they should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately, eye injuries can result in pain and potentially blindness.

Symptoms of eye injuries or conditions include:

Squinting

Excessive tearing

Uneven size of pupils

Pupils seem larger than normal

Pawing at the eye

Redness of the eye

Cloudiness of the cornea

Bulging of the eyeball

Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a common and serious disease which typically affects young, unvaccinated puppies but can affect dogs of any age regardless of vaccine status. The virus is shed through the feces and contracted after the dog is exposed to the virus while grooming itself or eating.The virus is very stable outside the body and can persist for months in the environment.

Once the animal acquires the virus, it has a 5-10 day incubation period, meaning the dog will not show symptoms for several days. Symptoms typically manifest as lethargy and loss of appetite which progresses rapidly to severe vomiting and diarrhea (often bloody).

Most animals need to be hospitalized for several days and require aggressive treatment in the form of IV fluids, anti-vomiting medications, antibiotics and other supportive care (feeding tubes, plasma). The prognosis is typically good if early treatment is started. Without treatment, this virus is often fatal.

Rattlesnake Envenomations

Treatment for a rattlesnake bite depends on the severity of the bite. For example, if the snake bit your pet out of aggression, it may be a more serious bite. Bites on the feet, legs, or chest are more severe than face bites. Small dogs and cats may have worse reactions than a large dog would. However, any pet that has been bitten by a rattlesnake should receive immediate treatment, as the venom can cause skin death, internal bleeding, trouble breathing,

and kidney failure. The sooner antivenom is injected, the more effective the treatment. Even if your pet has received the rattlesnake vaccine, they need treatment.

Symptoms of a rattlesnake bite include:

Swelling and pain around the bite wounds

Bruising of bitten skin and surrounding area

Lethargy and depression

Oozing puncture wounds

Drooling

Difficulty breathing

Weakness and collapse

Stiffness and paralysis

Respiratory Distress

Respiratory distress has many causes but is always considered a serious emergency and warrants immediate intervention. Common causes of respiratory distress in dogs and cats include:

Congestive heart failure

Asthma (cats)

Pneumonia

Collapsing trachea (dogs)

Laryngeal paralysis (dogs)

Cancer

Trauma

Signs of respiratory distress in both species may manifest as:

Extended neck and inability to breath comfortably while lying down (air hunger posture)

Increased respiratory rate and abdominal effort

Open-mouth breathing (cats)

Pale/purple gums

Excessive coughing, wheezing or congestion

Any animal experiencing these symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Try to limit stress during transport into the hospital.

Seizures

Dogs (and less commonly cats) can develop seizure for a variety of reasons, most commonly epilepsy. A typical grand mal seizure will manifest as loss of consciousness and collapse followed by the limbs becoming stiff and convulsing. This can last seconds to minutes, and may result in life-threatening complications if it persists. A petit mal seizure may be more subtle and the animal may only demonstrate small behavior changes like spacing out, disorientation, jaw chattering and inappropriate urination.

The best thing a pet owner can do is to stay calm and make sure your pet cannot fall or hit their head during the seizure event. Do NOT stick your hand in their mouth to avoid getting bit. Safely transport them to the hospital once the seizure has finished (or during the seizure if it persists more than 5 minutes).”

Trauma

Animals can suffer trauma due to bites from other animals, falls, or being hit by a motor vehicle. Be aware that an animal in pain may try to bite or scratch you. Approach the animal slowly and make sure they are breathing. If the injured animal is a cat, place a laundry basket over it and use a towel to scoop it into the basket. For dogs, use a belt or leash to restrain the mouth and place them on a towel or board to take to a veterinarian. Be careful when transporting an injured animal as to avoid further injury.

If the injured animal is not yours, contact your local animal control or humane society for transportation. Do NOT attempt to set fractured legs. Traumatic wounds may cause heart or lung problems to develop. If your pet has been injured or traumatized, they should be evaluated immediately.

Poisons/Toxicities

There are many things considered toxic to cats and dogs. A list of well-known poisons/toxins include:

The best treatment for any toxicity is early intervention and decontamination. Time is critical, so the sooner you can get your pet into the hospital, the sooner we can induce vomiting and get the toxin out of their system to prevent further absorption. If you are unsure whether or not your pet ingested something toxic, it is better to be safe than sorry and still have your pet seen.

Urinary Obstructions

Urinary obstructions are most common in adult male cats, but they can also be found in male dogs, and occasionally in female cats and dogs. Causes of blockage include:

Bladder stones

Bladder sand/crystals

Swelling or inflammation of the urinary tract

Cancer

Symptoms of urinary obstruction include:

Difficulty urinating

Small drops of bloody urine

Crying during urination

Getting in and out of the litter box frequently.

Sometimes, the only symptom may be vomiting, sickness or lethargy, so it may be hard to tell your pet is having a urinary problem. However, obstruction can be life-threatening, because left untreated, it results in toxin buildup in the blood that can result in death. If you suspect your pet has a urinary tract blockage, take them to a veterinarian or Animal Urgent Care immediately.

Vomiting/Diarrhea

Vomiting and/or diarrhea is the most common condition we see in cats and dogs coming to the emergency hospital.There is a long list of causes for vomiting and diarrhea and not every cause requires emergency treatment.

Reasons why you should have your cat or dog seen if they are vomiting and/or having diarrhea include:

Diagnostics will typically be recommended in the form of blood work and x-rays to help determine the cause for the vomiting/diarrhea (particularly when it comes to foreign bodies since this is a surgical emergency that requires prompt intervention). It is always better to be safe than sorry and have your pet seen immediately given all the potential causes for vomiting/diarrhea.

If you suspect your pet is having an emergency, please contact us by calling 760-738-9600 or visit us immediately. When minutes are on the line, Animal Urgent Care is here for you.

Hours

Daniela

Daniela Ferreira is a Veterinary Technician fueled by her compassion for animals and people.

Working in an emergency setting allows her to help owners and their pets that may be experiencing terrifying moments. She was born and raised in Brazil, where she graduated Veterinary School in 2000. After graduating she worked in Brazil with research for two years and traveled around the world finally deciding to settle in San Diego. Daniela has been working as a Veterinary Technician in San Diego since 2008. Her future plans include continuing her Veterinary Education in the USA. She is a wife and a mom of two amazing boys. During her spare time, she enjoys dancing, hiking and volunteering.

Alexis

Hey there! My name is Alexis & I have worked in the Veterinary field for the past 3 years. My passion for animal care is my earliest memory & the reason for the fire that’s grown inside of me today.

I am currently a Veterinary student at PIMA, with the long term goal of specializing in Mixed Animal Medicine. I’m from San Diego & enjoy the perks of hiking with my adorable little Pomchi, Jackson. If I’m not doing homework, my free time is usually spent with family or with our beloved animals. I’m happy to be part of the AUC team & look forward to meeting you!

Emilie

Hi, I’m Emilie! I’m a full time student and I hope to continue my career working with animals. I’m a proud mom to 3 dogs, 2 horses, a pig, and 2 turtles! Animals are my passion and I love being able to be around them at my job!

Corie Turpin

Corie has been a veterinary technician for the past 6 years. She grew up riding/showing horses and raising livestock in 4-H and FFA. Corie has 3 dogs, 4 horses and a 3 year old daughter who is her everything. Corie joined our team in October 2018 and is excited to be working in the emergency field.

Cynthia Friel

Cynthia has worked in veterinary medicine for 12 years prior to joining the team at Animal Urgent Care. She made the switch from general practice to emergency medicine which has reignited her passion for veterinary medicine. When not at work, Cynthia enjoys exploring San Diego, dance parties at home with her two children, her dog Lilly, trips to Disneyland and competitive Irish dancing.

Tony

Hi, my name is Tony Zeiler, and I have 30 years of experience as a veterinary technician working in emergency, internal medicine, general practice and critical care. I’m ready to assist you, and your pet with any emergency needs.

Eder

Eder has been happily working as a custodian for over two years at Animal Urgent Care, and we are fortunate to have him as part of the team.

Glen

Glen is a California native who grew up in Orange County. After obtaining his veterinary technician degree from Orange Coast College, Glen was able to pursue his life long passion of helping animals. He is excited to be back working in the emergency field and enjoys all of the challenges that emergency medicine has to offer. When not helping to save animals, Glen enjoys kayaking, hiking, fishing and off-roading.

Liz

From a young age it was obvious that I had a major love for animals. So much so that one of my first words was dog! However, I believe my mother would tell you I pronounced it “doooooog”! I have been working in the veterinary field for over 15 years and I have loved every minute of it. I started as a kennel assistant working my way up to technician. I have worked in general practice as well as specialized in dermatology. I have always had an interest in emergency medicine so being part of the AUC team is just what I needed!
I am a proud mommy of 4 fur babies! I have 2 Boston terriers (I’m slightly Boston terrier obsessed), a dachshund mix, and a pit bull. When I’m not working, my time is spent with my boyfriend, my dogs, and friends/family. I love traveling, hiking, anything outdoors and anything involving animals!

Jennifer

Jennifer has been a veterinary technician with Animal Urgent Care for over 15 years. Raised in San Diego, she has a passion for the varied, challenging, and diverse cases the clinic sees in the evening ER hours. She particularly enjoys the mysterious cases and traumas that allow her to stretch her technician skills.

Jennifer lives with daughter, Addie, and their Tortoiseshell cat, Marceline the Vampire Queen. She enjoys San Diego’s one week of winter, a steaming cup of creamer with a dash of coffee, and can likely be found Geocaching with her daughter.

Lara

Hi, my name is Lara. I was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. My family has always been part of the animal community no matter where I lived. I have a great interest in science and medicine, so I studied at Pima Medical Institute to become a Registered Veterinary Technician, and I received an associate degree in applied science. I do well in school and wish to continue my education, hopefully achieving a bachelor’s degree some day. I love my career and the people I work with. I have two Jack Russell fur babies at home, two horses, a fish named Fabio and a 7-year-old tree frog named Froggy. I enjoy being outdoors and traveling the world as much as I can.

Randi

Randi has been a veterinary technician for over three years. Randi finds emergency medicine to be her passion, as there is always something new and exciting to learn. She has loved animals and owned many since childhood. Randi lives with her daughter and 2-year-old Lab mix.

Karla

Born and raised in Chula Vista, Karla has always had a love for animals, so much so that while growing up, she brought every stray that she found home (her parents really loved that). She moved up to Escondido when she was 20 and started working with dogs in a daycare setting. Wanting to pursue and learn more, she moved on as a vet assistant at a small day practice in Vista. It wasn’t until 2017 that she joined AUC as a technician and fell in love with the adrenaline rush of the emergency setting.

She currently resides in Escondido with her boyfriend, four dogs, and two cats…still trying to bring strays home.

Tiffany

Tiffany was born in Phoenix, AZ but moved to San Diego when she was one year old. She knew from the young age of 5 she wanted to be a veterinarian. When she started working at an animal hospital at the age of 16, she knew being a technician was her true calling. Tiffany has worked at several animal hospitals around San Diego before ending up at AUC earlier this year. Her other love besides animals is football, especially the San Diego Chargers. She also enjoys country music and spending time with her family. Tiffany has three dogs: a 15-year-old Maltese, 2-year-old Shih Tzu, and an 8-month-old chihuahua/terrier mix.

Amy

An Escondido native, Amy graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Her focuses included equine reproduction, exercise physiology, and foaling. She has worked in the emergency veterinary field since 2012 and joined Animal Urgent Care’s team in summer 2015.

Amy also works as an Adventure Caravan Guide at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. There, she treats guests to VIP excursions into the field enclosures, where they can feed giraffes and, if they’re lucky, pet a baby rhino.

Amy has one cat, Octavia, and a German Shepherd named Roan, who she rescued when he came in as a stray to Animal Urgent Care. She enjoys long walks on the beach [with her dog], performing in local theater, and searching for the perfect, fair-trade, shade-grown coffee.

Francely

Born and raised in Florida, I moved to San Diego in 2010 where I graduated from Pima Medical Institute. I’ve been working for AUC for the past two years now and am currently studying to take the RVT exam. Outside of work, I like to cook and spend time at home with my husband and my cat.

Jean Kim, DVM

Jean was born in a suburb of Los Angeles, CA. She did her undergraduate studies at California State Polytechnic, Pomona and received a BS in Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Animal Science. She decided she needed a change in scenery and moved to the Midwest for veterinary school. She attended University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2014.

Since graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Kim completed a rotating internship in Los Angeles at Animal Specialty Group. She then moved back to the Midwest to the windy city, Chicago, IL. She practiced emergency medicine at multi-specialty practices for three years before deciding to move back to sunny Southern California. Dr. Kim joined the AUC team in 2018.

In her free time, Dr. Kim spends time with her boyfriend as well as her rambunctious dog, Addy, and as lazy-as-can-be cat, Charlie. She is an avid Chicago Cubs fan and loves to attend baseball games whenever she can.

Karen Seibold, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Seibold, a California native, completed her undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Denver and finished her veterinary training at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Animal Urgent Care was opened in July 1996 as a strictly after-hours emergency practice. In 1998, Dr. Seibold became a diplomate of the College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.She and her husband, Christopher Read, moved the hospital to its current location and expanded the hours to 24/7. As chief of staff, Dr. Seibold reviews hospital procedures and protocols. She is a regular speaker at local and national veterinary conferences. Dr. Seibold has a special interest in toxinology, pediatric emergencies, and trauma. She is a past president of the San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the following organizations:

California Veterinary Medical Association,

American Veterinary Medical Association

Veterinary Emergency and Critical

Care Society

North American Society of

Toxicologists

The Viper SocietyTraveling and photography, both land and underwater, are her favorite pastimes when she is not gardening or taking care of three Australian Shepherds, a three-legged Shepherd cross, two cats, six chickens and a number of zebra finches.

Scott DiLorenzo, DVM, Owner

Born and raised in upstate New York, Dr. DiLorenzo completed his undergraduate training at Northeastern University in Boston where he obtained a B.S. in biology. Following a year of working as a technician, he pursued his dream of becoming a veterinarian at Ross University on the island of St. Kitts, West Indies.

After almost three years of living on the island, Dr. DiLorenzo finished his clinical year of veterinary school at Cornell University in his home state of New York, graduating with high honors.

Following veterinary school, Dr. DiLorenzo completed an internship before joining the team at Animal Urgent Care in 2011. Since then, Dr. DiLorenzo has been an active board member with the San Diego Veterinary Association and became President for the 2016 year. He has also written several pet health columns and traveled to different parts of the globe.

As of January 1, 2018, Dr. DiLorenzo officially became owner of Animal Urgent Care, fulfilling a lifelong dream of his. He is excited to continue the tradition of providing high-quality emergency and critical care to the pets of North County San Diego and looks forward to this new chapter in his life.